The Ray Charles Singers

Ray Charles is the stage name of Charles Raymond Offenberg (born September 13, 1918, in Chicago, Illinois), an American musician, songwriter, and vocal conductor. He is best known for a series of easy listening record albums which he produced in the 1950s and 1960s as the Ray Charles Singers. This vocal group also sang backup on most of the recordings of Perry Como from 1950 to 1987, and Charles and his singers also appeared with Como in his live performances and on television. The Ray Charles Singers (with Charles featured prominently as lead male vocalist) sang the theme song to the television series Three's Company ("Come and Knock on Our Door"). He is sometimes known humorously as "The Other Ray Charles" to distinguish him from the great soul musician of the same name.

The Ray Charles Singers had a number of hit singles and albums, reaching number three on the pop charts in 1964 with one of the most successful easy listening singles of the '60s, "Love Me with All Your Heart (Cuando Caliente el Sol),"

As a songwriter, Charles is best known for the choral anthem "Fifty Nifty United States," in which he set the names of the states to music in alphabetical order. He also wrote some Christmas songs and other special musical material associated with Como. He has also worked in television with Bob Hope, Glen Campbell, and the Muppets. He continues to serve as a musical consultant to television programs.

Discography

Something Special For Young Singers

First, we need to make it clear that this is not the more familiar Ray Charles, beloved R&B star and subject of the movie "Ray." This Ray Charles had spent the 15 years previous to recording "Something Special" with his 25 singers as a singer and arranger with Perry Como, particularly for the popular "Perry Como Show." Second, this is all heavily accompanied material. That said, from the first few tunes, covers of "This Could Be the Start of Something," "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and "More," we can't remember hearing an ensemble this bright, smooth, sincere upbeat and downright entertaining as Ray's 25 mixed voices. "There! I've Said It Again," "Dominique," "Hello, Dolly," "Love Me with All Your Heart" (their hit single), "Charade" and "What Kind of Fool am I." A quote from Charles is telling: "All songs are really poems set to music. If you don't believe in a lyric, you'd better keep your mouth shut and just hum." His Singers sing their tails off on every song and believe in every lyric, and so do we!

Al-Di-La and Other Extra-Special Songs for Young Lovers

Ray Charles (not the more familiar R&B recording star, but longtime arranger and vocalist for Perry Como and his "Perry Como Show"), knew quite a lot about entertainment and how to put together a vocal ensemble and get the most out of them. "Al-Di-La" features 12 accompanied cover tunes, is a bright, sweet, sincere collection of pop tunes and Broadway hits, as innocent, upbeat, schmaltzy, silly and entertaining as mainstream variety shows and musicals were in the mid-to-late 60s. "The Girl from Ipanema," Lennon/McCartney's "Do You Want to Know A Secret," "Real Live Girl," "Satin Doll," "Call Me Irresponsible," "Till the End of Time," "Something Extra Special" (written by Charles, and the only original on the album), "Bluesette" and "You are Never Far from Me." "Johann Sebastian Bach" is interesting, in that it puts jazzy lyrics to a familiar Bach aria in a Swingle Singers kind of way. Fun, romantic stuff from the 60s.

Chorus honors leader as second to none
Former 'Perry Como' singers reunite to pay tribute to 'The Other Ray Charles.'

By LISA LIDDANE
The Orange County Register

In "The Hours," author Michael Cunningham wrote, "Maybe there is nothing ever that can equal the recollection of being young together." That sentiment was the theme of a reunion Saturday of a small group of men and women – now older and grayer – who when they were young shared a bond as members of the Ray Charles Singers.

Seven of them got together to relive those memories with the eponymous chorus master for the first time in 43 years. "Ray is 87. We need to honor him and let him know what he has meant to all of us," said Patti Johnson, 71, of Tustin, who hosted a "HooRay Reunion" gathering Saturday at her home.

Johnson and the other singers presented Charles with a commemorative scrapbook, sheet music and a compact disc. More important, they shared memories of their time with him. "It means so much to me," said Charles of the reunion. "We've never spent time like this together." His eyes lined with tears as the group sang him a song. This time, he was not leading them.

There were several incarnations of the Ray Charles Singers. This group performed on "The Perry Como Show" on television from the late '50s to early '60s. Members recorded a few albums by themselves and sang backup on most Como albums. There were 12 men and eight women in the group. Three have died. Six traveled to Johnson's home from other parts of Southern California or flew in from New Jersey, Arizona and Colorado. Over the years, they've sometimes been mistaken as singers for the late R&B icon Ray Charles, also known as Ray Charles Robinson.

This Ray Charles is Charles Raymond Offenberg, who jokingly called himself "The Other Ray Charles." His singers remember him as an extraordinary and unflappable leader who exacted from them their best performances without raising his voice or uttering an unkind word. Johnson recalled the day she flew from Rochester, Minn., to New York to audition for Charles. "I didn't have money to stay overnight, so I flew in and flew out," she said. "I sang 'Lucky to be Me.' Several months later, I received a telegram that said: 'Report for work next week. "Perry Como Show."' "Ray was demanding but kind," Johnson said. "He was highly talented and could arrange and compose. He conveyed to you that you weren't at your best without saying anything. A small look would do it."

Charles picked each singer to blend seamlessly with the others, said Jinx Riedesel, 72, of Littleton, Colo. "Ray matched voices. He matched personalities. He wouldn't have kept anyone who had a star complex." Or anyone who was a slow learner. Riedesel's most vivid memories of Charles include his presiding over the group through a tight production schedule every week except in the summer. On Wednesdays, they received the sheet music, sight-read the songs and learned choreography. On Thursdays, they got fitted for costumes and performed in a dress rehearsal. On Fridays, they filmed the show or performed live.

Over the years, some of the singers have stayed in touch with Charles and their colleagues through phone calls, and lately, e-mail. Most of the time, the conversations are about the families and the present. But Saturday night belonged to the past – and to the man who brought them all together.

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